Electrical connector for flexible flat cable

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector that can be made relatively thin so that a plurality of these connectors can be crimped to the flat conductor of a flat flexible cable arranged at close pitch distances across the end of the cable.

United States Patent [191 Collier 1 Dec. 3, 1974 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR [56] References Cited FLEXIBLE FLAT CABLE UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: John Covell Collier, Farnworth, 3,504,101 3/1970 Muto 339/276 R England 3,752,901 8/1973 Kuo 3,753,213 8/1973 Frcy 339/97 R [73] Asslgneez AMP Incorporated, Harrlsburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1973 Primary Examiner.1oseph H. McGlynn Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wi11iam J. Keating; [21] Appl 411664 Frederick W. Raring; Jay L. Seitchik [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Nov. 29, 1-972 Great Britain 55027/72 An electrical connector h a b made relatively thin so that a plurality of these connectors can be [52] 339/97 174/84 339/176 MF. crimped to the flat conductor of a flat flexible cable [51] Int. Cl H01! 11/20 arranged at close pitch distances across theend of the [58] Field of Search 339/17 F, 95, 97-99, cable -339/276,176 MF;174/84 C 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures This invention relates to electrical contacts for connection to a flat conductor of a flat, flexible cable.

The expression flat flexible cable used throughout this specification is intended to include a cable having one or a plurality of spaced, flat conductors extending along the length of the cable and either embedded in or supported on the surface of an insulating material; or flexible etched circuitry in which flat conductors are formed on a flexible insulating material.

According to the present invention, an electrical contact made from sheet material has a part for connection to a flat conductor of a flat, flexible cable, the

part comprising first and second arms arranged in spaced, opposed relationship, the arms being relatively movable towards each other for crimp connection to a flat conductor of the cable, the first arm having an embossment in the form of a dome, the apex of the dome having a through aperture, the second arm having a lance extending towards and in alignment with the aperture so that on crimping, the lance initially pierces the cable and passes through the aperture, subsequent crimping pressure causing the embossment to flatten with a consequent reduction in area of the aperture, the sides of which aperture grip the lance and inhibit withdrawal of the lance from the aperture.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the Fig- .u res of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side'view of an electrical contact about to be crimped to the end of a flat flexible cable;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail of the electrical contact of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail-illustrating an embossment formed on oneof the arms of the electrical contact of FIG. 1;

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an electrical contact 1 has a contact part 2 for releasable connection with a mating contact (not shown) and a connecting part 3 for crimped connection to a flat conductor of a flat flexible cable 4.

The connecting part 3 includes a pair of arms 5, 6 arranged in spaced, opposed relationship and relatively movable towards each other for crimped connection to a flat conductor of the flat, flexible cable 4. The arms 5, 6 are hingedly connected together at one end and inclined away from each other. Arm has a pair of spaced embossments 7 each in the form of a dome having a convex surface extending towards the arm 6. At the apex of each dome is an elongate through aperture 8 adapted to receive a lance 9 formed from the arm 6.

2 In operation, when the contact 1 is to be crimped'to a flat flexible cable 4, the cable is inserted into the cav- -ity 10 between the arms 5, 6 so that a flat conductor is in alignment with the arms. Crimping pressure is applied to the arms 5, 6 to move the arms towards each other. Initially, the lances 9 pierce the insulation and the flat conductor of the flat flexible cable 4 and pass through their respective apertures 8. Further application of crimping pressure causes the apices of the domes to flatten thereby altering the configuration of the apertures 8 so that opposite sides of the apertures 8 grip between them their corresponding lances 9 (see FIG. 4). The lances 9 are thereby inhibited from withdrawing from the apertures 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8, a further electrical contact 11 has a contact part 12 for engagement with a mating contact (not shown) and a connecting part 13 for crimped connection to a flat conductor of a flat, flexible cable.

The connecting part 13 includes a pair of arms 15, 16 arranged in spaced, opposed relationship. The arms l5, 16 are movable relatively towards each other for crimp connection to a flat conductor of a flat, flexible cable (not shown); Arm 15 has a pair of spaced embossments 17 each in the form of a dome extending towards the arm 16. Each dome is generally convex but is flat at the apex of the dome. At the apex of each dome'is a circular through aperture 18 adapted to receive a lance 19 formed from the arm 16.

In operation, when the contact 11 is to be crimped to a flat, flexible cable, the cable is inserted between the arms 15, 16 so that a flat conductor is in alignment with the arms l5, l6. Crimping pressure is applied to the arms 1 5, 16 to move the arms towards each other. lnitially the lances 19 pierce the insulation and the flat conductor of the flat, flexible cable and pass through their respective apertures 18. Further application of crimping pressure causes the apices of the domes to flatten thereby altering the configuration of the through apertures 18. The circular cross-sectional area of each aperture 18 is decreased thereby causing the side of each aperture 18 to grip its corresponding lance 19. The lances 19 are thereby inhibited from withdrawing from the apertures 18.

One advantage of the electrical contacts of the above described embodiments is that the contacts are each crimped to a flat, flexible cable in a simple manner without the need for elaborate dies. This advantage enables a plurality of such electrical contacts to be preloaded in passageways in an insulating housing, each passageway having an opening for permitting entry of a die for applying a crimping pressure to the arms 5, 16

on the insertion of a flat, flexible cable between the respective arms 5, 6; l5, 16. This facilitates the assembly of electrical harnesses which include flat, flexible cable 3 crimp connection to a flatconductor of the cable, the first arm having an embossment in the form of a dome,

the apex of the dome having a through aperture, the.

second arm having a lance extending towards andin alignment with the aperture so that on crimping, the lance initially pierces the cable and passes through the aperture, subsequent crimping pressure causing the embossment to flatten with a consequent reduction in area of the aperture, the sides of which aperture grip the lance and inhibit withdrawal of the lance from the aperture.

2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, in which two lances are provided on the second arm and two complementary domes are provided on the first arm, each dome having a convex surface extending to- "wards the second arm, the apex of each dome having ture. 

1. An electrical contact made from sheet material having a part for connection to a flat conductor of a flat, flexible cable, the part comprising first and second arms arranged in spaced, opposed relationship, the arms being relatively movable towards each other for crimp connection to a flat conductor of the cable, the first arm having an embossment in the form of a dome, the apex of the dome having a through aperture, the second arm having a lance extending towards and in alignment with the aperture so that on crimping, the lance initially pierces the cable and passes through the aperture, subsequent crimping pressure causing the embossment to flatten with a consequent reduction in area of the aperture, the sides of which aperture grip the lance and inhibit withdrawal of the lance from the aperture.
 2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, in which two lances are provided on the second arm and two complementary domes are provided on the first arm, each dome having a convex surface extending towards the second arm, the apex of each dome having an elongate through aperture.
 3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, in which two lances are provided on the second arm and two complementary domes are provided on the first arm, each dome having a convex surface extending towards the second arm the apex of the dome being flattened and having a circular cross-section through aperture. 